This episode covers continuing talks for settlement attempts in regards to the Miners' Strike, the IRA's attempted murder on Margaret Thatcher, and the rising and falling in importance of the differing political parties. This episode begins with the title screen and theme song playing, it then pans to a screen where various images of relevant politicians and Margaret Thatcher are shown. Host Richard Whiteley introduces the first new episode of the new series by noting the coal...

This episode covers continuing talks for settlement attempts in regards to the Miners' Strike, the IRA's attempted murder on Margaret Thatcher, and the rising and falling in importance of the differing political parties. This episode begins with the title screen and theme song playing, it then pans to a screen where various images of relevant politicians and Margaret Thatcher are shown. Host Richard Whiteley introduces the first new episode of the new series by noting the coal talks that are in the balance, the key issue being the NUMs persistence on no pit closures on the ground of economic reasoning and the NCBs equally strong persistence on its right to manage. Host Geoff Druett then speaks on the IRAs attempt the murder Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet, Druett notes the questions being asked about the security for Britain's top politicians as well as the state of the parties after their conferences and after their new parliamentary session. The show then pans back to Richard Whiteley as he talks about the most recent attempt to settle the pit strike (which had, by the time of recording, being going on for four days) at the HQ of the arbitration service Acas. They suggested a non-binding review body which would assess disputed pit closures (Mr. Ian MacGregor accepted this agreement and Arthur Scargill rejected it). He notifies that the Acas has been working on a form of words that would allow the board to close pits in align with its responsibilities or with the plan for coal. Whiteley then introduces Alec Woodall (Labour MP for Hemsworth, sponsored by the NUM), John Spence (Conservative MP for Ryedale in North Yorkshire), and Peter Hardy (Labour MP for Wentworth in South Yorkshire) for a debate style interview in the studio. They all speak on the reasoning for the continuity of the coal miner strikes and why they have lasted the length they have, as well as who is to blame for this. The episode then pans back to Geoff Druett who speaks on the political party conferences and the domination of the miners strikes in these conference talks. Druett then focuses on the IRA bombing on the sixth floor of the Grand Hotel in Brighton which has put terrorism at the top of the agenda. If they had succeeded Margaret Thatcher would've died which raises serious questions about the security of top politicians. This segment showed varies images and videos of the injured individuals who were staying in the Grand Hotel as well as the physical damage done to the building itself. He also speaks about Margaret Thatcher's continuing with her conference speech the next day and the positive reaction from the crowd for it. Geoff Druett then returns to speak on the miners and argues they have set the agenda for the conference meetings that have been taking place for the previous five weeks, such as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the first week of September, the turn of the SDP meeting in Buxton and the Liberal assembly in Bournemouth where David Steele turned his rath on Mr. MacGregor (as well as coming up with a three-point plan for ending the strike once and for all). Throughout this segment videos were shown of these group meetings and speeches that were made. Geoff Druett then introduces Richard Wainwright (Liberal MP for the Colne Valley), Peter Hardy (Labour MP for Wentworth in South Yorkshire), and Geoffrey Lawler (Conservative MP for Bradford North) in an interview segment of the show. They aim to look back on the conferences and also forward to the new session of parliament. They talk about the reassessing of how party leaders are guarded and that if security is to put an end to democratic political conferences then the IRA have succeeded in their goal. The show then pans back the Richard Whiteley who introduces Edward Pierce (a seasoned political journalist), he works for the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph. During this interview between the two Whiteley asks him about the rising and falling importance of different political parties, as well as Thatcher's performance before, during, and after the bombing. Geoff Druett concludes this episode. An image of Westminster Abbey is shown whilst the theme song plays in the background as the credits role. Presenters RICHARD WHITELEY & GEOFF DRUETT Featuring PETER HARDY, GEOFFREY LAWLER, JOHN SPENCER, ALEC WOODALL, RICHARD WAINWRIGHT, EDWARD PEARCE Editorial Assistant ALI RASHID Director PETER JONES Executive Producer GRAHAM IRONSIDE YORKSHIRE TELEVISION LTD1984 YORKSHIRE TELEVISION PRODUCTION